Category: Public Relations

BGR Analytics Launches Best States for AI Investment Index, the Definitive Data-Driven Ranking of All 50 States + D.C. for AI Investment

Posted on by Rae Parsons

Index Debuts at SelectUSA Investment Summit; Texas, Utah and Florida Lead Overall Rankings

WASHINGTON D.C. — BGR Analytics, the data practice of BGR Group, Washington’s premier bipartisan government affairs and public relations firm, today launched the BGR Best States for AI Investment Index — a comprehensive, data-driven ranking of all 50 states and the District of Columbia based on their readiness and attractiveness for artificial intelligence investment. The Index is the first product of its kind to apply rigorous, multi-dimensional analysis to the AI investment landscape, giving technology companies, data center developers, sovereign wealth funds, private equity firms and foreign governments the intelligence they need to make confident, data-backed AI investment decisions.

The Index is being introduced tonight at a cocktail reception co-hosted by BGR Group, Advocus Partners and gener8tor in connection with the SelectUSA Investment Summit. The reception is themed “Investing Locally to Compete Globally: Building Innovation Ecosystems & AI Ready States.” It will be held on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m., at the Belvedere Lobby Bar, Gaylord Hotel, National Harbor, Maryland.

Texas ranks first overall, followed by Utah and Florida in BGR Analytics’ inaugural Best States for AI Investment Index. California and North Carolina are tied for 4th, followed by Virginia, Georgia, Colorado, Washington, Massachusetts and Maryland.

“The AI economy is reordering American competitiveness state by state, and the decisions companies and investors make today about where to deploy capital will shape the landscape for decades,” said Frank Ahrens, Head of BGR Analytics. “Until now, those decisions have too often been made on the basis of conventional wisdom, gut instinct, or incomplete data. The BGR Best States for AI Investment Index changes that, delivering more than 100 verified data points across five pillars to cut through the noise and give investors the confidence to act.”

Five Pillars. 14 Indicator Groups. 100+ Data Categories.

The Index evaluates all 51 jurisdictions across five core pillars: 1) Dynamic Economy, 2) Business Climate, 3) Data-Center Readiness — encompassing Research & Startup Ecosystem, Data Infrastructure, Regulatory Friendliness, Energy Abundance & Affordability, and Synergistic Advantage — 4) Workforce Advantage and 5) Quality of Place. Each indicator is normalized and scored before applying group and pillar weights to produce an aggregate total score and ranking. Rankings reflect objective data only; no state surveying was conducted.

The Index also produces specialized sub-rankings, including Top States for Physical AI Investment — led by Texas, Florida and Georgia — and Top States for Knowledge AI Investment — led by California, Texas and North Carolina — enabling investors to pinpoint the best states for their specific deployment needs.

Built for Investors and State Governments Alike

For investors, the Index serves as a decision-support tool to identify optimal locations for AI-related capital deployment, validate or challenge site-selection assumptions, and build a data-backed narrative for stakeholders on where — and why — AI investment should flow.

For state governments, the Index shows exactly how each state performs across the 14 categories that matter most to AI investors — from data center infrastructure to talent pipelines — enabling state economic development officials to sharpen their investment pitch, target their strengths, and close competitive gaps.

About BGR Analytics

BGR Analytics® is the data practice of BGR Group, established in 2023. Powered by BGR’s Data Science team and led by Principal Frank Ahrens, BGR Analytics uses proprietary methodologies and data from multiple authoritative sources to produce rankings, risk assessments, and actionable intelligence that give clients a competitive edge. BGR Analytics products include the BGR Impact Index; the BGR Energy Security Index and the BGR Best States for Asian Investment Index. More information is available at bgrdc.com/bgr-analytics.

About BGR Group

Founded in 1991 and celebrating its 35th anniversary, BGR Group is the leading bipartisan government affairs, public relations and analytics firm in Washington D.C., with offices in Austin, Atlanta, Nashville and Phoenix and extensive business relationships around the world. BGR’s clients include Fortune 500 companies, foreign governments, trade associations, non-profit organizations, academic institutions and coalitions. More information is available at bgrdc.com.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Frank Ahrens
Head of BGR Analytics
BGR Group
FAhrens@bgrpr.com
(202) 352-4227

Download the press release here

Japan Tops 2024 BGR Impact Index, a Data-Based Ranking of Foreign Countries’ Influence in the U.S.

Posted on by Rae Parsons

Japan is the top-ranked country in the 2024 BGR Impact Index, a ranking of the world’s countries based how well-known and well-regarded they are in the U.S. The BGR Impact Index is produced by BGR Analytics, part of the BGR Group, a top-performing lobbying and communications firm in Washington D.C., and is based on analysis of traditional, news and social media data.

READ FULL PRESS RELEASE HERE

BGR Group Names Jo Maney Chief of Marketing and Engagement

Posted on by Rae Parsons

Washington, D.C., (January 30, 2024) — BGR Group, the premier lobbying and communications firm in the nation’s capital, today promoted Jo Maney to the newly created position of Chief of Marketing and Engagement.

Jo will oversee advertising and promotion for BGR Group, manage the brand and the extensive content produced by BGR’s practices, and continue to lead the firm’s public engagement. She will remain a principal in BGR’s Public Relations practice, BGR Group’s communications company, and the president of the BGR Foundation.

“BGR is thrilled Jo has agreed to take on this new responsibility, which will help us continue to grow and innovate,” said Erskine Wells, president of BGR Group. “We wanted a strategic, respected, and dedicated colleague to head our engagement efforts. Jo was the natural choice.”

Jo has been with BGR Public Relations for 12 years. She previously worked as communications director for the House Rules Committee under Chairman David Dreier (R-California) and in other congressional offices prior to that. Her new position takes effect immediately.

About BGR Group (www.bgrdc.com)

Founded in 1991, BGR Group is a premier government affairs and public relations firm with offices in Washington, D.C., Austin, Texas, London and now Atlanta, Georgia. BGR specializes in three key areas: bipartisan government affairs, strategic communications, and business advisory services. BGR brings together some of the most accomplished policy experts, public opinion influencers, and issue advocates from across the political spectrum.

Principal Jo Maney Named BGR Foundation President

Posted on by LFontaine

January 11, 2022 – BGR Group, one of Washington, D.C.’s premier bipartisan lobbying and communications firms, today announced that Jo Maney, a principal at BGR Public Relations, has been named president of the BGR Foundation. Through the BGR Foundation, BGR and its employees support many important charitable causes and have stepped up donations during the pandemic including to the Salvation Army, the March of Dimes, Soldiers‘ Angels, and Feed the Fight, which buys meals from local restaurants and delivers them to frontline workers. Over the last decade, the Foundation has distributed more than $2.5 million.

Jo joined BGR Public Relations in July 2012. She uses her insider knowledge of Congress and her expertise in strategic communications to assist BGR clients. Jo also leads BGR Group’s marketing efforts and has become a familiar face on BGR interview videos, which the firm disseminates online.

“We’re thrilled that Jo has agreed to take on this important responsibility for the firm,” said BGR Group chairman and CEO Bob Wood. “She has a keen understanding of the Washington community and has been instrumental in broadening the charities the foundation has helped in recent years. She is exactly the right person to take on this important leadership role.”

“I’m honored to take on this new assignment,” Jo said. “BGR is already a force for good, but there is more work to do. I look forward to assisting BGR play a larger role in helping the Greater Washington community, especially related to the challenges created by COVID-19.”

Prior to joining BGR, Jo was the longtime Communications Director for the House Rules Committee, the influential panel that serves as the traffic cop for all significant legislation that moves through the House of Representatives. As the chief spokeswoman for the committee and Chairman David Dreier (R-Calif.) from 2000 to 2012, Jo provided strategic advice to members of Congress and staff and interacted daily with national and international television, print, online and radio reporters.

Jo also worked for two years for former representative Dan Miller (R-Fla.) and the U.S. House Subcommittee on the Census. Jo attended Florida State University where she received bachelor’s degrees in English Literature and Political Science.

CONTACT: Jeff Birnbaum
jbirnbaum@bgrpr.com
202-661-6367

Largest Lobbying Firms in Greater D.C.

Posted on by LFontaine
Washington Business Journal

BGR Group ranked third in largest lobbying firm in greater D.C. based on 2020 income.

 

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BGR Group Recognized as “Standout Firm” in Bloomberg 2020 Survey

Posted on by LFontaine

Washington, D.C. (May 28, 2021) – BGR Group, Washington, D.C.’s premier bipartisan lobbying and public relations firm, has once again been recognized as a Standout Firm by Bloomberg Government. BGR Group ranks second on the list. According to Bloomberg Government, “Standout firms are defined as firms that displayed impressive performance in 2020 by exceeding thresholds in key metrics: revenue growth, growth in average revenue per client, client retention, and revenue per lobbyist.” This is the fourth consecutive year BGR Group has been named as a Standout Firm by the Bloomberg Survey.

“BGR is proud of our continued record of service to our clients, particularly during the pandemic,” BGR Group President and CEO Bob Wood said. “Over our thirty-year history, BGR has provided consistent and quality results. We are honored to work with clients across multiple issue areas ranging from healthcare to financial services to state and local affairs. As indicated by the survey, our client retention and addition of new clients in a challenging year was exceptional. Our outstanding team of bipartisan policy and public relations professionals continues to grow and achieve success for our clients.”

Established in 1991, BGR Group has offices in Washington, Austin, Beijing and London, and extensive business relationships around the world. The bipartisan firm’s clients include Fortune 500 companies, foreign governments, trade associations, non-profit organizations, academic institutions, hospitals and coalitions. The BGR team includes former senior-level appointees in the White House, Congress and Executive Branch departments and agencies. BGR’s staffers are veterans of political campaigns at the presidential, congressional and gubernatorial levels. In these key roles, team members gained expertise in public policy, strategic thinking, effective advocacy and delivering results. BGR Public Relations team members have dozens of years of experience at the highest levels of journalism as well as in political, corporate and international communications. Working together, BGR Group’s Government Affairs and Public Relations teams communicate our clients’ needs and help them achieve success.

Read the full report HERE. 

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BGR Views: The Latest Political Polls II

Posted on by LFontaine

Jeff Birnbaum, president of BGR Public Relations, interviews John McIntyre, BGR Advisory Board member and CEO of RealClearPolitics about current political races.

 

BGR Views: Frank Ahrens Interviews AFP Correspondent Shaun Tandon

Posted on by LFontaine

Frank Ahrens and Shaun Tandon talk about how U.S. journalists cover foreign affairs and foreign countries from Washington D.C.

BGR’s Polling Outlook for President, Senate

Posted on by LFontaine

Jeff Birnbaum, president of BGR Public Relations, interviews John McIntyre, BGR Advisory Board member and CEO of RealClearPolitics about current polling.

BGR Views: The Latest Political Polls from BGR Group on Vimeo.

BGR PR Principal Frank Ahrens on Hyundai’s use of K-pop Superstars BTS Branding Power

Posted on by LFontaine

FORBES

September 1, 2020

By Frank Ahrens

Hyundai Motor could not have better-timed the announcement that it is turning its little-known trio of Ioniq cars into a sub-brand. Why? Because the brand has partnered with K-pop superstar group BTS, which is basically the biggest thing in entertainment on the planet at this moment.

On September 1, BTS and Hyundai debuted a music video called, “Ioniq: I’m On It,” designed to promote the new sub-brand, which was launched in August.

Song lyrics include: “Full energy/higher esteem/better focus on what’s charging me.” So far, it has nearly 1 million views. This may seem like a lot, but BTS does these kinds of numbers before breakfast.

The Korean group launched its first English-language music video, “Dynamite,” on August 20. In the first 24 hours, it logged 101 million views, breaking a YouTube record. By September 1, the video had 269 million views. Yes — more than one-quarter of a billion. BTS are not just the most popular K-Pop band; they are among the most popular groups in the world. “Dynamite” recently won multiple trophies at MTV’s Video Music Awards, beating out Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift. BTS fans – known as the BTS ARMY — are global, multi-racial, attuned to social justice issues and are political activists.

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